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St. Joan de Valois, also known as St. Joan of France or St. Joan of Valois, was the daughter of King Louis XI of France.
Joan’s sufferings began early. She was born very sick, had a curved spine, and walked with a limp. Her father, dissatisfied with his daughter’s appearance, adopted an “out of sight, out of mind” approach regarding her and sent her away to be raised by a childless couple.
This couple was strong Catholics and helped Joan to develop a strong faith and prayer life. Even as a young child, she had a strong devotion to Mary and spent hours every day in prayer.
At the age of 7, Joan asked Mary what she could do in her life to best please her. She heard a message from Mary that one day, Joan would start a religious order in honor of Mary. This would be pleasing to Mary.
Joan’s father had other plans and disregarded Joan’s desire for religious life. When Joan was an infant, her father had arranged her marriage to the Duke of Orleans. In 1473, when she was 12 and the Duke 14, he forced it to proceed.
The Duke was unhappy with the plan, but Joan’s father threatened his death if he did not follow through with the marriage. Reluctantly, the two married. The Duke made it clear in his actions that he did not care for his wife, and told his friends that it would be a marriage in name only.
Joan’s father died in 1483, and Joan’s brother, Charles VIII, succeeded him as king. In 1484, the Duke of Orleans began military campaigns against Charles and was eventually imprisoned. During this period, he fathered a child with another woman.
Joan, seeking to live out her marriage vows, watched over the Duke’s lands and worked diligently for his freedom. The Duke was freed in 1491.
In 1498, King Charles VIII died in a freak accident, leading the Duke to become King Louis XII. After becoming king, Louis petitioned the pope for an annulment, so he could marry Charles VIII’s widow.
The annulment process was contentious and embarrassing. When he gave his reasons for requesting an annulment, Louis claimed that the marriage was never consummated, and he publicly revealed intimate details about Joan’s physical deformities. Joan rebutted the claims.
Eventually, for political reasons and because the two had been coerced into marrying, the pope granted the annulment. King Louis XII made Joan a duchess and ensured her annual income.
As she stepped into this new chapter of her life, Joan finally confided in her confessor the message that Mary had given her years before. Together, the two began developing the Order of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a contemplative community devoted to prayer, penance, and the cultivation of Mary’s virtues. The order was formally established two years before Joan’s death.
Joan is the patron of difficult circumstances. Her feast day is celebrated on February 4.
Lessons From St. Joan de Valois
First, Joan’s life shows us that God can work good from evil.
When Joan was sent away by her father, God used her circumstances to strengthen her faith, leading her to be open to Mary’s message.
When Joan’s marriage ended, He used her freedom to found a religious order.
God did not desire for Joan to suffer in these ways, but He was able to use these sufferings for her good and the good of many.
Second, Joan’s life shows us that we need to pray and listen regularly for God’s voice, so He can reveal how He will work good from the suffering we face.
In her regular prayer, Mary revealed to Joan how God would use her as His instrument. This message was a source of hope for Joan as her life took many unexpected, heartbreaking twists and turns.
May St. Joan de Valois intercede for us, that we may persevere in prayer, hope, and listening in the face of immense suffering.